A stunning tribute was paid to rapper Nipsey Hussle as the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards honoured him 10 months after he was killed.
Nipsey was shot outside his clothing store in Los Angeles on March 31 aged 33, with a memorial being held at the Staples Center.
With the awards ceremony being held there and with Nipsey being posthumously nominated for three awards, a legion of stars took the stage in his honour.
Nipsey, whose real name was Ermias Asghedom, would have been proud of the all-star nod to his life with director Ava DuVernay introducing the tribute to the fallen rap icon.
She said: “Tonight we celebrate the enduring memory of an artist and a leader who made brave, brilliant strides to unite this community here in Los Angeles and around the world."
Meek Mill, Roddy Ricch, YG and Hussle’s band 15 or Nothing then took the stage.
They were joined by Kirk Franklin, DJ Khaled and John Legend.
The performance ended with a giant image of Nipsey on the screen alongside NBA star Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash earlier in the day.
Ken Ehrlich, the Grammy Awards executive producer said about the collab: "An activist, entrepreneur and rapper, Nipsey Hussle had a lasting impact on not just his community, but also the culture at large.
"There is no denying the influence he had, and his legacy will be felt for generations to come.
"We are honored to bring together this amazing group of artists to celebrate Nipsey’s life and pay tribute to his many contributions to music. It’s sure to be a memorable performance."
Nipsey’s fiancée Lauren London also spoke out about the tribute, saying: "It’s bittersweet because he’s not here to physically receive it or to see it, but I know because of the type of man he was and how hard he worked, that it is a positive addition to his legacy."
Nipsey is nominated for three posthumous Grammy Awards in 2020, for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song (Racks In The Middle), as well as Best Rap/Sung Performance (Higher).
Nipsey shares the nomination for 'Higher' with DJ Khaled and John Legend.
Khaled said about being up for an award: "I knew it was special out the gate. Working with Nipsey Hussle was special.
"I told Nipsey that God willing, we will get nominated for a Grammy … I spoke that into existence.
"We both felt the same. We knew making this record was Grammy-worthy."
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